Universal dredging-machine.



T, F; LONNEY. UNIVERSAL DRE-DGiN G MACHINE. APPLICATION IILEDNOV. 15. 1905. RENEWED APR.10,1909. 969,171 Patented Sept. 6,1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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i WIN/[58% INVENTOH d/f T. F. LONNEY. UNIVERSAL DREDGING MAGHINE;

APPLIGAFION FILED NOV. 10, 1906 RENEWED APR 19,1909.

- Patented Sept. 6, 1910.

5 SliEETS-SHEET 2.

' M/VENTOH WITNESS'FS NEYS I Z ATTO T. P. LONNEY.

UNIVERSAL DREDGING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED NOV,10,1906. RENEWED APB..10,1909.

Patented Sept.6,191(j.

WITNESSES T. F. LONN EY.

4 UNIVERSAL DREDGING MACHINE-.7 APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1900. RENEWED-APR. 10, 1909.-

Patented Sept. 6, 1910.

5 SHBETSSEEET 4 Q T LLNVENTORV TTO NEYS T. F. LQN EY. UNIVERSAL DEEDGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOT-10, 1906. RENEWED APE. 1011909 Pan-8mm Sept. 6, 19m

5 SHEETSSHEE'T 5.

INL ENTOH My "w M d A TTORNE Y8 UNITED STATES grnutr omuon THOMAS F. LONNEY, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'TO GEORGE UPINGTON,

" 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Sept. 6, 910.

Application filed November 10, 1906, Serial No. 342,781. Renewed April 10, 1909. Serial No. 489,183.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS F. Loislsnn,

residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have in'vented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Universal Dredging-lVl-achines, of which the' following is a full, clear, and exactdescriptlon, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention broadly relates to improvements in excavating apparatus, but more specifically it concerns apparatus of this character in which an endless excavating belt is mounted to travel around a runway, capable of being adjusted into diverse posi-- 'tions.

"One object of this invention is to devise an excavating apparatus which, without efv i raising o1"lowering the cutting toe thereof to meet the requirements of various conditions' Another object is to provide an excavating .ap )aratus of the class described in which t e strain imposed on the excavating bucket will be brought directly upon the cutting portion thereof, in contra-distinction from being transmitted thereto through the body P0111011 of said bucket, in order that the-excavating may take place more effectively and that the body portion may be made of as light material'as is possible com mensurate with the nature of the work performed by the bucket. 7

Another object ofthis invention is to pro- 'vide excavating means which, while being capable of being diversely adjusted so as to cut or gather debris at various depths and places, will discharge such debris at a point fixed relatively to the vehicle or float upon which the excavating apparatus is mounted.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the character described which is es pecially adapted for the excavating or dredging of canals, harbors andother water-ways, and which, as a Whole, is well suited for being transported froinplace to p ac i Another object is to provide a dredging apparatus which taken as an entirety, will be self-containe not'being necessarily dependent upon auxiliary apparatus for assisting it inperforming its work;

said cross bar being secured directly to-the lowing claims. I

Referring now to the drawings, wherein is shown various-possible embodiments 'of my invention, and wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout all the views,,- of which, Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of my apparatus, illustrating the same as employed for dredgin a Water-Way, and showing how the gathere debris may be discharged from a relatively fixed point into a suitable chute leading to an adjacent scow or app'iopriate point of accumulation. Fig. 2 is a transverse elevation taken midway of the ends of the float or vehicle,showing' the latter in cross section. This View shows the arran ement of certain of the several parts not fully illustrated in Fig; 1, such as the chute, which as positioned discharges the debris to one side of the float, such debris beingv accumulated either upon the banks of the water-Way v or in suitable sco'ws, by means of which it; may be easily transported to more distant 85 places." Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of the summit or apex of the apparatus, showing more particularly details of the means for automatically effecting a discharge of the buckets and also the means for driving and carry ing said bucketsaround said apex. Fig, 4' is a bottom View of a bucket, as seen by -looktraveling excavating train, showing the ar- 'rangement and relationship of certain coinponent parts of the bucket and also the means fof flexibly connecting the same to the carrying ropes. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of a bucket taken along line 55 of Fig. 3 and showing the manner in which the ends of the cross bar or link are engaged with the traveling rope, the body portion of cutting face of the bucket in order that the lot strains may be brought directly upon the cutting edge thereof. Fig. 6 is a side elevation ofthe toe of the collapsible frame work along line 7-v-7 track for supporting such part and permitingcertain details not early apparent from the apparatus.

between the collapsible frame work or runway around whic ,vatmg Inasmuch as it s desirable ,enableg-thecuttingtoe of'sa'id runway to be 5 raised orlonzere'd withontafictin'g the, point 'of discharge and without compelling an adjustment 1n the length of the excavating chain, I propose to construct said runway 01 a plurahtyof inextcnsible trusses having hinged joints permitting the said runway to be collapsed or expanded to raise or lower the toe. It will be understood that, owing to the peculiar construction of such a run- Way, the periphery thereof will. not undergo variations in length during the changes in its configuration, and conse uently the traveling chain of buckets nm e of a constant length, irrespective of variations in the general outline of the runway. I have shown a framework comprising four members connected together to form a diamond-shaped structure, but it will be understood that it or runway, showing certain details as to the mannerfof hinging together the lower meeting ends of the converging depending truss, members and at the same time providing suitable] turning means for the buckets. Fig. 7 is a. vertical section taken of Fig. 6,.sh0wing certain arrangements not clearly apparent from Fig. 6. Fig. Sis a transverse sectional elevation of one of the intermediate hinges of the collapsible runway, showing a segmental ting the same to have a lateral or swinging movement to effect araising, lowering, advancing or retreating of the cutting toe of Fig. 9 is a sectional eleva- (.1011 taken along a median vertical plane transversely intersectin Fig. 3, and showploy-a greater number of trusses and to urrange them in various ways within the scope of t e appended claims. As shown,however, propose to so arrange the parts that the summit or' apex of the diamond-shaped frame work will be constant in position.

said latterlfigure, such as the relationship wayand the stationary derrick, and also the s eolficarrangement of the driving means.

bodiment, a colla bsible frame work or runh ftravelsjan endless cxcaby,'arc-shaped tracksll ter of'radius is the upperivot 14 of the swinging frame. ,These 'trac s one bracedto the boat by a suitable scaifolding. it will nowbe understood that the foot-of each up;

from'anossentially practical. standpoint to lies within the scope of this invention to em- 1g. 10is an elevation of Fi 8 looking at 25 the same from the left tower the ri ht and Tu ning now'to the annexed drawings, it showing more particularly the m1 ears for will, be seen that the excavating apparatus is facilitati th pr ding Or 1a.tera1 mgvgmounted upon a. suitable boat or float 1, ment ofthe intermediate jointcof the appawhich as shown provides a central opening ratus, and, in cross Section,-the tracksup- 01 Well 2 through which descends the lower 80 portin th g Fi 11 i etional view part of the excavating apparatus. As it is showing in detail one of the blocks, by means desirable that the depth of the endless belt of which the buckets are secured against may be varied to'correspond with different displacement to the traveling rope, and requirements either of depth of tide or showing the manner in which ,the said blocks depth of desired out, as the case may be, 35 are positively attached to said rope, together bottom portion of the. polygon which 1 'with means for prbviding slight.pivot l carries the endless seriesot' buckctswill be movement of the buckets with respect to said. formedof two depending truss members 3 blocks. Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken andfhea'chpivded to associated upper truss transversely through .Fig. ,11,.showing more members 5 and '6 and hinged together at 49 clearly the arrangement of the block and its 1 th ir l wer en s t m he toe f the passociated Parts. Fig. 13 is a front elevation pa at I i r ed t at the 601- of the clamping-ring employed in connection lapsiblc runway thus formedmay be supwith the aforesaid blocks. Fig. 14 is an end ported. solely from the intermediate joints I elevation of 13 looking from right to 01' other parts, but to insure rigidity and to 45 left. relieve such runway from unduev strains, At the outset'it .is to be clearly under "this invention proposes an auxiliary stastood that the herein described excavating tionary supporting frame work or derrick 7 apparatus may be carried upon any suitable which rises froin the boat on each side of vehicle-according to the use of the same. In the collapsible runway'and braces the apex herein described einbodilni-ult, however, 015 the latter as shown more clearly by Fig. I have. .shownthe excai-"ating apparatus as I 2. Preferably this derrick rises from the being carried by a boat or float, this ai-L bottom 8 of'ihc boat and passes through the rangement being especially adapted forthce' deck 9 thereof, so that-the latter will not P dredging o-i water-ways. The excavating directly receive the weight of the derrick. apparatus may in some cases be positioned The latter will comprise'various cross pieces 'transverseiy' of the float at or between the suitably disposed to stifi'en the whole. Theends thereof, or otherwise, as may be war upper trusses are pivoted to form an apex ranted byspecial conditions. This excava't- Wh-ich'iS partly braced and supported by the ing apparatus'coinprises, in the shown. ezn stationary frame, and travel at their lower 60 ends, '10 and 11, along, .and are supported per swinging truss may be moved into any desired station upon the circular track, andthat its upper end will always be in a tired osition, which is unati'ected by the swingmg of such frame. -The lower end or toe 15, However, acts like the free end of a tog gle, and it will beraised or lowered, dependmg upon the degree of separation of the mtermediate joints '10 and 11 of the runway. The intermediate joints of the collapslble frame work are in the main constructed substantially like the aforesaid toe, whose specific construction is hereinafter described in detail, but inasmuch as such joints are designed to be freely spread apart to raise the dredging toe and at the same time ride upon the aforesaid tracks to assist in carryi ngd the weight of the collapsible frame work an pose upon the other supporting parts thereof,-I will now describe a preferred mechanism for freely affording such movement. To this end I have mounted upon suitable scaffoldings 16 and 17 carried by the vehicle as it is shown by Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 10, the segmental tracks which have been heretofore referred to in general terms. The shaft 11 constituting the pinion of the rear intermediate joint, protrudes a short distance beyond each side of the runway, as

' shown more clearly in Fig. 10, to form jourconveniently be positioned to sinmltaneously nals for small rollers 18, which are provided with side flanges inter-fitting with said track. The said rollers, while being free to rotate about said shaft, are positioned against ltiferal play through the instrumentality of suitable means, such 'as theshown collars 19. The intern'iediate joints may be moved along the tracks by any suitable mechanism, which may involve the principles of a ratchet-'01 may comprise a rope 20, see Fig. 1, which passes over a pulley 21 at the upper end of the track and from thence over a second pul-ley 22 to the motor or engine 23,- or to a winding capstan. 24. The latter may operate each of the intermediate joints or it may be arranged to operate them independ ent-ly or botlu-as may be desired.

The tram of bucket-s iscarried by a suitable eudlesschain or rope which in turn is mounted to travel around the periphery of the collapsible polygonal frame. work. -l'n this connection it may observed that va.- r ous equivalents may take the place of the shown excavating teatures,-but the latter will forman'y purposes be the preferable "construction, and-comprises a series of buckets 25 each secured to and between a pair oflendlcss-wirc ropes 26. I will now proceed to describe the preferred means where.- by the said buckets are-secured to the traveling ropes to allow for sufiicient tlexingthercwith to readily' pass around the pulleys at the turning points, and yetat the same time reyent undue thrust'from being im-- such bulged portion.

to prevent said buckets from slipping stung said rope and becoming displaced into nosuitable positions. At suit-able intervals the rope, which will ordinarily consist of wire and be composed of a plurality oi strands 35, will be spread, that is to say, the component strands of said rope will be partially untwistcd so as to take. the form illustrated more. clearly by Figs. fiflflldl 1.2, in which a considerable space lies between each strand and the latter are so spread as to very considerably increase the diameter of the rope at predctermined stations thereof. This invention proposes a suitable block 27 having an aperture corresponding in shape to the spread portions of said rope. This aperture isat its ends 2!) of a size approxin'iately corresponding with the normal diameter of the rope, and between the ends such aperture en larges or bulges out, as at 30, to enable it to' conform to the'enlargcd or spread portions of the rope.

It will be noted that, with the parts assembled as shown in Fig. 11,a verycgmsiderable amount of unfilled space is provided, and that the structure is notwell adapted, as shown, to prevent longitudinal slipping of said block, inasmuch as such movement would tend to compress the spread strands into their normal. position, To prevent this action this invention proposes to till all of said recesses with a suitable unyielding material 31. This material will preferably consist ofa readily fusible metal, such as lead, which is well adaptedfor being easily melted and then caused to fillall open spaces. Preferably small shoulders 32 will be provided within the. normal sized portion of ItOO said aperture, the purposebeing to prevent the block and rope from having any initial slipping moven'ient, which might in time tend to work the parts loose on' the rope. Inasmuch as the spreading of the rope may be more conveniently (lone-before it is inserted in the bulged aperture, the block will ordinarilybe composed of two parts 33 and 34, which are separable along such tlaring aperture, as illustrated. by Figs. 11 and lf-J,

and preferably the joint may be broken at 36 so as to provide. a satisfactory interlock- 5 ,1

tug oi. the parts. lhe leadhlhng maybe lnscrted either ,by pouring after the separab e parts are at ranged around the spread strands, or may be set previously 'and the separable parts subsequently brought around The separable parts may be maintained together in any desired 'ay, as for example by means of bolts 37, which are provided with countersunk heads I It will be observed'tbat as the block and rope pass around the. turning points of the runway, therope 'will flex relativelyto' said block, and inasmuch as, it is desirable to proj vlde a little play I give the exits 39 of the I clearlyby 4 s apertures a sli htly flaring or funnelshaped form, wlthin which the rope may flex when it is turned as described. Since this permits of some little play between the 5 rope and the block 27 at this point and inasinuch as sand when accumulated in this part tends to abrade the rubbing surfaces and thus wear away the parts, I provide means for permitting a slight yield without,

however, allowing the foreign matter to enter said parts. This means consists of a packing &0 of rubber or other suitable rcsilient material, which-surrounds the wire rope and bears against the uOllebpOlldlllg end of said block. This packing is then dist torted to form a tight and impervious joint between its contacting parts through pressure caused by a 'closure of the clamping" rings 41 shown in Figs. 13 and 14:. These rings may bevariously constructed, but as shownw present a very satisfactory arrangement and comprise two portions hinged at one end and bolted together at the other end, so that such portions may be brought together to squeeze the rubber as described. In lieu of these rings I. may provide any other obvious arrangements for the same purpose; for example, I may provide an ordinary stuffing box or the like, but the shown "arrangement is simple and inexpensive and well adapted to meet the exigencies of the case." It Will be noted that these blocks will be secured to the rope at suitable intervals and to such blocks will be alfixed the excavating buckets, in any manner desired. In-

I asmuch as it is desirable to allow a slight pivotal or swinging movement of the buckets with respect to said blocks, in order that they may have some little freedom of move- 40 ment in excavatingand in passing arounu the turning points provided by the variousv turning pulleys carried by the runway, this invention proposes a, connecting means which will provide for such play. the embodiment shown by Figs. 11 and 12, each block is provided with a' second aperture T 42 to one, sideof the bulged or-gripping .aperture. A link or cross bar'dprovides extended ends 44, each of which passes I through this aperture, and has portions {i5 exterior thereof inturnecl, so as.,..toprevent longitudinal displacement of said'ends within said aperture. It will be understood, in this connection, that the shown formation of 5 the I link may be departed from within "proper limits, and said link may be otherwiseshaped, according to the dictates of ,specialcircumstances. However,- the shown [iormwill in general befo'und to be satisp 50 factory and'wcll adapted for carrying out the-fonds of 1 this. invention. The. aperture through-which said link passes will'be of afdoubleconvex' sha ns-.;illustrated more IiH Which case tM I .j Tcrosssectioa as 'lJIB.VBll

while a mitting of a l'ittlej.yield, -m a be; retained against an undue sv ri,,1,1ging"'a out shown. This form of aperture, as will be 'said block through said aperture, and said joint will preferably be so formed that the two separable portions 4E8 and 33 of the block will interlock against lateral displacement. These and other arts of the block will be removably secure in place through the instrumentality of the bolts which have already been referred to. The under surface 19 of the block, that is to say, -the portion of the block which is intended to ride around the turning pulleys, will preferably be slightly curved as shown by Figs. 11 and 12, to provide a smooth act-ion during the travel of the same. I

The. arrangement of the link or cross bar a3, as it may be termed, on the excavating buckets is shown more clearl in Figs. l and 5, to which reference shoul now be made. Such link extends transversely of thebucket and is secured thereto so as to allow of protruding ends, which are in engagement-With the corresponding blocks in the manner heretofore described. In the shown embodiment the link is afiixed to the bottom 50 .or

cutting'face of the excavating bucket, the

and tendto keep the bucket in suitable alinement 'for gathering material, but it also enables the rear or body portion of the bucket to be constructed of relatively light and inexpensive-material, this owing to the fact that'no strains other. than the Weight/of material need be carried by the body portion of the bucket, Whereas all of the strain due to forcing it into the material to be excavated is transmitted through the cross bar to the bottom. This invention proposes to h make such bottom of relatively heavy. roportions, and preferably such-bottom wi i be made interchangeable, so as to be capable of being readily replaced after the cutting edge of the same has become unduly worn. From this it will be seen that in this arrangement a maximum lightness ofbucket is provided,

without the-sacrifice of any of its strength or other advanta es;

. It is .desirab e to provide means for"securingthe rear end of the bucket also to the chain or rope, so that the buckets,

trude therefrom short distances, as will be more clearly understood by referring to Figs. 3 and 4. An open cross bar 53 extends from rope to rope at the rear of the bucket, being fixed at its ends'to said rope 26 but not being attached directly to the bucket.- Such cross bar will ordinarily be composed of a pair of straps which are bolted together near their ends, which are suitably secured to the traveling rope, and at its intermediate portion is spread apart to provide an opening 55, as shown more clearly by F ig; 4. Through this opening or frame extend the protruding ends of the steady arms, it being intended to allow the ends to oscillate within the said opening so as to permit of some littlemovement of the buckets, without affording any undue movement. Of course many mechanical equivalents of this arrangei'nentwill occur to those skilled in the art, and therefor I do not desire to be limited to this precise construction, but have shown this so that the invention may. be more clearly understood,

and so that these advantages may be carried out in various ways by those skilled in the art.

To insure a smoothness of action of the excavating train, each joint of the runway is provided with a suitable turning means so that the train may properly'ride over such joints. Thus the lower joint.- of the collapsible frame, which portion 1. have termed the too, is constructed after the manner shown in Figs. 6 and 7., in which the de-' pending trusses are provided at-their lower converging extremities with companitm lwfnlll'lg' pieccs 5(3 and 57, somewhat after the fashion of a rule joint. These bearing pieces havc'at appropriate places small lugs or projections 58 which are countersunk in the contacting portions'of the truss, which portions may be brought togetl'icr to clamp such piece. thcrclwtwccn through the instrumculality of a suitable uunbcr of bolts 'l'hc 1. 1! bearing piece 57 has its lower cud 'bifuru'iiul. and the other is providml with an extrusion iii) adapted to fit between the (-gs thusvprovidcd. 'lhcsc ends of the bcarmg pieces are aperlurcd, and within such aperture is placed a suitable slccvc (3| which serves as a replaceable collar adapted to rcceivc the wear of the shaft 15 whichpasscs thermhrofugh.

This shaft is 'lllilllilillll il against cud movement by anysuiiablc'thrusi means, as forexamplctin-shown nuts 32 at the ends thereof. llwill' of coursc bc undcrstood that some latitude in the urrangcuu-ni oi ihcsc details is ru'arini'ssi'blc \v'ilhin ,[hc

.scopooi' this il-lrcnlion, and in this |);ll'il('l|- lar rariations w ll be nuidc to adapt l'hc dcru-r-lo bcsl mcct the rcquircnuznls of pan ticular i-ir iuustauccs. 'lhc shall. as will be pcr onrd, scrrcs as a lillllflli about \\lll li ing train and prevent the latera the dependin trusses may swing in raising or lowering t e toe, and spaced apartupon such shaft are suitable wheels 63 which as shown are provided with flanges (34 whose purpose is to guide the travelin excavat- Tdisplaccment thereof. The ropes, or chains, as the case may be, which connect the excavating buckets together, pass over the periphery ofv and the excavating buckets he these wheels intermediate the wheels, as will. be more clearly understoml by referring to Fig. 12 and also Fig. 1. The intermediate joints are similarly provided with hinged joints and turning wheels, as will be seen by referring to Fig. 10.

The train of buckets may be driven from any desirable point, and by any suitable means, and in the shown embodiment of my invention such means is located at the apex of the collapsible frame work and serves also as a means for riding the chain about said apex. .Thus properly spaced apart upon the upper pinion shaft 14 are two sprocket or chain wheels 65 and 66 having their eripheries configurated to interfit with the protruding features carried by the travelin Y ropes, as will now be described. Thus the 'periphr of each sprocket wheel has agroove 6 which in the case of ropes will be semicircular and in'the caseof chains will be correspondingly shaped in conformity with such chains. At suitable intervals about this periphery are also provided seats or recesses ('58 into which the blocks 27 suc-' ccssively engagi as the said sprocket. wheels are rotated. Intermediate these seats I also provide seats (3%), which, are adapted to receive the rope clamping portions 54 of'the open cross bars 53. From this it will be understood that the train of buckets will be caused to positively travel upon a rotation of these to") wheels, vthe interfitting with said wheels 0 said ropes insuring against a slipping, and at the same time the action will be very smooth and ,pf an essentially practical character. To drive the wheels, one or both of them may be providcd'with a spurred periphery 70 which isadapted to engage a chain or bolt running from a suit-' able engine carried by the float, or more preferably one or both of-those wheels are provided with a toothcd periphery H which is'in engagement with a. small pinion 72 carried by a shaft 73 preferably supported by tho stationary frame work 7 A large sproclfl'i wheel 74 is also fixed to said shaft, and is drivcn by a driving belt or chain 75 from the aforesaid engine.

lVhilc the uppermost shalt carrying the.

turning whccls at the apex may ho supported solely by Ihc collapsible frame work, for the sake. of suwadiucss andgoml nu-cha'nical constrlu-lion'il is bcst that it be lnouuicd within hearings carried by the stationary derrick.

whole.

This serves'to reinforce the rigidity of the The automatic discharging means is exceedingly simple, although very effective in operation. "lurning to Figs. 3 and 4, it will he noted that each bucket has a hinged door Tfi on'it's inner face. the hinge 77 being shown inl'cri neiliate the top and .lmttom oi the bucket, so that, the lower edge of the door may swing outwardly.- This door is normally retained closed by means of one or more sp'ringlatchcs 78, which engage the lower end of said door. The buckets descend in a closed condition, the cutting edge takes into the matter which is to h'ecxcavated and scoops up an appropriate amount of debris, whleh is then carried upwardly along the forward periphery of the collapsible Frame work until it reaches a point: adjacent the apex of the smile. At such pointis located a stop-'79 which cngagcscach latch 78 and throws the same"dmvuward, thereby releasing the swinging door 76, which through the weight of "the material contained in the bucket swings outwardly and-allows the des hris therein to discharge. A chute 80, Sec V l igs. I and 2, is-provided to receive this dch'ris and carry the same to a suitable conveyor H! leading; to the discharging point i which may he either over a collecting scow or may lead to the hank of the canal or other vdcscri ednnd all statements of, the

place, as may he preferred. The chute 80 may lead to each side, as shown by Fig. 2,

and may have ashuttlc door. 82 for directing the debris into thea'pproprlatcside As each discharged bucket, witi its swinging door, continues to rise it rides over a roller .83 carried by the stationary scaffold, and

'ing continuous. Ono marked"advantage of this construction resides in tho'fart that the apex of the dredgingapparatus may he this-roller closes the swinging door, which is then automatically engaged by the said latches and maintained' i'n clotted condition.

The bucket then continuestd ride over the iipe x, down-the other side, and in due. tinua is again filled wi'th debris, the operation bepoint o-ffdischarge of the dclnis-coli-ectcd bv the excavating "chain renm ins constant, thatis to say, the discharge takes place near-the the collapsible frame work, which point, aslhas been already scen is fixed in position; Owing to this 1)B(f!ll lzllli-y.lll0 adustmcnt of the collecting .toenia bdlllflill.

*irrespective of adjustment-oi the ocationot' -thc discharge point, and consequently. the

dredging maybe carried'on rapidly and continuously. I

Thearts of the boat or vehicle not occupird iiv the features directly incident-alto used for quarters, coal himkers"andthc like. i

' -Whilc"' I have throughout. this specification and in the following claims refcrredto the word rope .1 desire it to be. under stood that I have, emplo ed this term in its representative sense as enoting any means having functions similar to that of the shown wire rope; that is, for example, a chain would in certain cases' be regarded as an equivalent for said rope, except in so far as certain parts of this invention peculiarly alent elements whether designated asheams,

links or otherwisep As many cliangesn-nuld' he made in the above construction and many apparently widely ditferentembodiments of this invention could be made Without departin from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mat ter contained in the above dcscriptionor shown. in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted asillu'strativc and not in a' limiting sense. It. is also to he understood Ithat the language used in the following claims is intendedv to cover all of the generic and s )ecitic features of the invention herein scope of the invention, which, asa matter of lan-/ guage, might be said to fall therebetween.

Ilaving described my invention, what I' claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent; i's:'- 4

1. A stationary derrick, a pairof do endin'g trusses pivoted to'the u perendo said derrick, an inextensible'lin systemhinged to and connecting the free ends of said trusses, and an endless excavatin chain mounted to travel around th'evperip ery oi the aforesaid parts. y

2; A float, a derrick carried thereby, a air of'trus'ses pivoted to said derrick, each l'iein adapted to he moycdwith or indeipcn entl to the lhwer portions, of said swinging trusses and converging to form a toe', and mi endless chain of buckets mounted to travel around the aforesaid frame work, whereby upon swinging one or both ofsivid swinging! trusses the toe of said frame work may he raised or lowered: toercavate at' different depths. I V

l/An excavating apparatus com rising, in combination, a we icle, a. plum ity ,of trussescarried thereby and converging upward] therefrom to form' an apex. said apex iing fixed in position relative to said vehicle, each ofsaid trusses ing arranged vto independently swing about said 10x asa center, a segmental track carried y said of its com'ianion trusses hin d,

trusses may swing,

'srribed by hinged trusses and pear/1' vehicle and supporting the lower end of each-swinging truss, and an endless excavating chain mounted to travel around the periphery ot said. trusses.

4. An excavating apparatus comprisin in rombination. a vehiele. a pair of trusses ronverging upwardly to form an apex. said trusses being hinged at. said apex and adapt ed to swing thereahout. a track rarried b I said vehicle upon whu-h the lower ends ot said trusses are supported. and an excavating means adapted to he guided in its travel around said trusses and arranged to discharge material in proximity with the apex.

5. An excavating apparatus comprising. in combination, a vehicle. a pair oftrnsses .earried thereby atid convergmg to form an about which each of said a segmental track arranged to supportthe lower end of each truss, said track having a urvature dethe bearing end of the winging truss.- and an excavating means mounted to travel around said trusses and discharge material adjacent the upper hinged joint thereof.

1'. An exeavating apparatus eonuirisim in rmnbinatiou. a vehiele. a stationary frame work carried thereby, a collapsible ,t'rame =workcomprising a truss pivotally swung from an upper pivot tixed to said stationary upper hinged joint I frame work. and an endless excavating chain mounted to travel around the periphery of said frame work and discharge material adjacent said upper pivot.

"I. An excavating apparatus comprising. in combination, a vehicle. a stationary frame work rising therefrom. a pair of swinging trusses converging toward the summit of said stationary frame work and pivoted thereto, the lower swinging ends of said trusses being conneeted providing a lower toe, whereby. upon spreading the lower ends of said swinging trusses. said toe may beraised. buckets mounted to travel around said frame work.

8'. An excavating apparatus eomprising.

in continuation, a vehicle provided with n eentral well, a segmental track .rising'from each end of said well. the radiioi" saidt'raeks triu'k. said trusses intersecting at a point overlying said well and intermediate. the ends ot' said vehicle. a pairot swinging trusses e.-u-h havii.tg a lower end arranged to travel upon an associated being hinged at said point.

- a truss hinged to and depending from the each of said upper trusses. said lower end of to form a depending trusses -eonverging '-hi ngtal toewliich may be raised by spreading 'thedower ends of said swinging trusses.

and an endless train oi" excavating buckets inounfedto travel around the periphery of sat-d trusses.

t). .\.n excavating apparatus comprising,

by a plurality hot"- latter to raise or lower the toe of said framework, and an endless excavating chain mounted to travel around the periphery of said frameworki g It). Anexcavating apparatus comprising, in combination, a vehieie, a plurality of trusses hinged to form a collapsible-diamond-ahapedirame work, a curvilinear track port the intermediate hinges of said collapsible frame work. whereby the latter ma be expanded to raise its toe, and an on less excavating chain mounted to travel around said frame work.

11. An e'xeavating apparatus comprising, inrombinatimt, a vehiele, a. plurality of trusses hinged at meeting ends to form a diamond-shaped eollapsible frame WOI'I, a segmental trark whose center of curvature is the apex of said frame, work, the intermediate joints of the latter being arranged to travel along said track to.-.-raise or lower the toe of said framework, and a train of exravating buckets mounted to' travel around the periphery ofsaid frame work.

l2. An excavating apparatus."comprising, in combination, a traveling rope. a block af fixed thereto againstv relative movement therewith. said block providinga double 'eonvex aperture, :1 link extending into said aperture and adapted to rock therein, and a bucket secured to said link.

13. An excavating apparatus comprising.

in combination, a-sectional bloek having a through said aperture and s 'nread into the lmlge thereof to -tix the relative positions of said block and rope. said block having a double convex aperture, a link passing into said aperture and adapted to rock therein, and an excavating bucket having its cutting edge directly seru'red to said link.

H. An excavating apparatuseomprising,

parts of said block together.

riding an aperture through whiehsaid rope passes. said rope against. relative movement, a resilient, packframework bulged aperture, a traveling rope passing in combination. a three-part. block. ea e .se(.thon thereof being enlarged to ttirul' an throughft said.

withfirsaid bulged and blot-k being secured.

by said vehicle,-'-

carried by said vehicle and arranged to supits 15. An excavating apparatus eouun'ising. in colnlnmnion. a traveling rope. a block pm ceive the propelling force directly on its cutting edge, but may be rocked'relatively therewith.

An excavating ,apparatus comprising, in combination, an endless traveling rope, a series of blocks afiixed thereto against relative movement therewith, a corresponding number of excavatiiig buckets, each bucketbeing pirotally secured in line with its cutting edge to one of said blocks whereby the pull of the rope will be transmitted directly to said cutting edge and said bucketwill be compelled to travel with said rope but may rock slightly therewith.

29. An excavating apparatus comprising,

in combination, a sectional block having a 5 bulged aperture, a traveling, rope passing through said aperture and spread into i the bulge thereof to fix the relative positions of said block and rope, said block havinga double'convex aperture,-a link passing into said aperture and adapted to rock therein, and an excavating buckethavin'g its cutting edge directly secured to said link.

30. An excavating apparatus comprisin f, in combination, a traveling rope, an excavating bucket pivotally secured at its cut. ting edge to said rope whereby the pull of the rope may act dlirectly on said cutting .edge, and means. connecting the opposite end of said bucket to said rope-to provide a limited swinging movement of said bucket about said ipidot.

31. An excavating apparatus comprising, in combination, atraveling ro ie, an excaw'at-ing bucket pivotally securedat its cutting edge to said rope wherebyithe pull of the rope may act directly on said cutting edge', and means securing the other end of said bucket to said rope and adapted to 'per -m1t a hunted movement ()f'Stlltl end relatively to said rope.

32. An excavating apparatus comprising; in combination, a traveling: rope, a bucket pivotally secured at its cutting-edge thereto 'wherehy the pullot the rope may act directly on said cutting edge, an abutment secured to the opposite end of said bucket,

and an unduemovement prevented.

3%. An excavating apparatus comprising, in (OllilillitltlOlL- a pair of traveling ropes, an

cxcavatingbucket pivot-ally secured to said ropes in direct line with its cutting edge and lying therebctween whereby the pull of the rope niayact directly on said cutting edge, a cross bar securedat its end to and extending lwtu'een said ropes at the rear of said bucket, and one or more stead) arms protruding from the rear of said bucket into the path otjmosrment of said cross bar whereby a limited movement. of the rear of said bucket relatively to said cross bar. will be ati'orded.

35. An excavating apparatus comprising,

in comhimition, a pair of traveling ropcs, an excavating bucket having each of its foru'ard. sides pivotally secured in line with its cutting edge to the corresponding rope,a cross ha r extending between said ropes'and secured at each end to the corresponding rope. lltl cross bar prmiding an inclosed opening between itsends, and one or more st ady arms protruding from the rearof said bucket into said opening and adapted to icciprocate from side to side thcreot",

aud thereby allow a limited movenu-nt-ot said bucket. 1

In testimony whereof I al'lix my signature, in the presence of two \vitmesscs.

'll-TUMAS F. LONNEY. \Vit uesses:

Au'rni'u t l. luur'm, ll. M. SEAMANS. 

